PSYCHYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING

PREGNANCY
woman is dynamic and changes/ fluctuates during every Pregnancy
and initial weeks/ months are a time for a significant psychological
change for both parents. Such psychological changes during
pregnancy help in the preparation and adaptation for parenthood, 
self-identity, couple relationship and parent-infant attachment.
Moreover, the psychological state of the pregnant trimester. (Ref)
 To make sense of the emotional ups and downs during the pregnancy, it is
important to have an understanding of the psychological changes during
this vital period. This would also help in detecting and addressing any
mental health problems at a very early stage. Sometimes, psychological
changes could lead to significant stress too.

 This article provides a brief overview of the psychological changes during

pregnancy, with special regards to the internal and external psychological
reorganizations.
 First trimester

 During this time, there may be emotional fluctuations between

positive feelings (such as excitement, happiness, and joy) and rather
negative ones (such as disbelief, anticipation, worry, and
tearfulness).
 This depends on a variety of factors, such as pregnancy ailments (
nausea/ vomiting, reflux diseases, insomnia), planned/ unplanned
pregnancy, financial situations, family support, a perception of
lifestyle restriction, and a sense of loss of independence.
  Extreme fatigue or morning sickness can colour your daily life. Moodiness (as
with premenstrual syndrome) is normal. Happiness and anxiety about a new
pregnancy, or feeling upset about an unplanned pregnancy, are also common
 Second trimester

 Although the mood fluctuations continue even during the second

trimester, the negative feelings could sometimes lessen.

 This is due to reduced nausea/ vomiting, more adaptation to changes,

some idea about the pregnancy care (from healthcare professionals).

 Research has suggested that the mental health problems (such as anxiety

and depression) occur less commonly in the second trimester (in
comparison to the first and third trimesters).
  Fatigue, morning sickness, and moodiness usually improve or go away. You
may feel more forgetful and disorganized than before. Looking heavier than
normal, then looking visibly pregnant and feeling the baby move, can make
you feel any number of emotions.
 Third trimester

 Negative emotional feelings could come back more again during this time.
This could be due to increasing discomfort (such as due to pelvic girdle
pain/ a backache), insomnia, tiredness/ exhaustion,

 Moreover, the following psychological changes become more prominent

during the third trimester (compared to the first and second trimesters):
 Forgetfulness may continue. As your due date nears, it is common to feel more
anxious about the childbirth and how a new baby will change your life. As you
feel more tired and uncomfortable, you may be more irritable than before.
 For some women, serious anxiety or depression problems improve during
pregnancy. For others, they do not. If you find no pleasure in daily life, or
suffer from a lot of sleeplessness (insomnia), sadness, tearfulness, anxiety,
hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, irritability, appetite change,
or poor concentration, talk to your health professional. Without treatment,
mental health problems can get in the way of a healthy pregnancy.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING
PREGNANCY
 Body image changes

 Emotional security

 Cultural expectation

 Support from partners

 Whether pregnancy in unexpected

 Financial situation
 Major factors that influence the psychological impact of pregnancy

 A woman level of maturity

 Readiness for childbearing

 Hormones contributes to mood swings

 FETAL GROWTH
WEEK BY WEEK CHANGES

 Gestation is the period of time between conception and birth

when a baby grows and develops inside the mother's womb.
Because it's impossible to know exactly when conception
occurs, gestational age is measured from the first day of the

mother's last menstrual cycle to the current date. It is measured

in weeks.

 This means that during weeks 1 and 2 of pregnancy, a woman is

not yet pregnant. This is when her body is preparing for a baby. A
normal gestation lasts anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks.
 Week 1 to 2

 The first week of pregnancy starts with the first day of a

woman's menstrual period. She is not yet pregnant.

 During the end of the second week, an egg is released

from an ovary. This is when you are most likely to
conceive if you have unprotected intercourse.
  Week 3
 During intercourse, sperm enters the vagina after the man ejaculates. The
strongest sperm will travel through the cervix (the opening of the womb, or
uterus), and into the fallopian tubes.
 A single sperm and the mother's egg cell meet in the fallopian tube. When the
single sperm enters the egg, conception occurs. The combined sperm and egg is
called a zygote.
 The zygote contains all of the genetic information (DNA) needed to become a
baby. Half the DNA comes from the mother's egg and half from the father's sperm.
 The zygote spends the next few days traveling down the fallopian tube. During
this time, it divides to form a ball of cells called a blastocyst.
 A blastocyst is made up of an inner group of cells with an outer shell.
 The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The embryo is what will develop
into your baby.
 The outer group of cells will become structures, called membranes, which nourish
and protect the embryo.
 Week 4

 Once the blastocyst reaches the uterus, it buries itself in the

uterine wall.

 At this point in the mother's menstrual cycle, the lining of the

uterus is thick with blood and ready to support a baby.

 The blastocyst sticks tightly to the wall of the uterus and

receives nourishment from the mother's blood.
 Week 5

 Week 5 is the start of the "embryonic period." This is when all

the baby's major systems and structures develop.
 The embryo's cells multiply and start to take on specific
functions. This is called differentiation.
 Blood cells, kidney cells, and nerve cells all develop.
 The embryo grows rapidly, and the baby's external features
begin to form.
 Your baby's brain, spinal cord, and heart begin to develop.
 Baby's gastrointestinal tract starts to form.
 It is during this time in the first trimester that the baby is most
at risk for damage from things that may cause birth defects.
This includes certain medicines, illegal drug use, heavy alcohol
use, infections such as rubella, and other factors.
 Weeks 6 to 7

 Arm and leg buds start to grow.

 Your baby's brain forms into 5 different areas. Some cranial
nerves are visible.
 Eyes and ears begin to form.
 Tissue grows that will become your baby's spine and other
bones.
 Baby's heart continues to grow and now beats at a regular
rhythm. This can be seen by vaginal ultrasound.
 Blood pumps through the main vessels.
 Week 8

 Baby's arms and legs have grown longer.

 Hands and feet begin to form and look like little paddles.

 Your baby's brain continues to grow.

 The lungs start to form.

 Week 9

 Nipples and hair follicles form.

 Arms grow and elbows develop.

 Baby's toes can be seen.

 All baby's essential organs have begun to grow.

 Week 10

 Your baby's eyelids are more developed and begin to close.

 The outer ears begin to take shape.
 Baby's facial features become more distinct.
 The intestines rotate.
 At the end of the 10th week of pregnancy, your baby is no
longer an embryo. It is now a fetus, the stage of development up
until birth.
 Weeks 11 to 14

 Your baby's eyelids close and will not reopen until about the
28th week.
 Baby's face is well-formed.
 Limbs are long and thin.
 Nails appear on the fingers and toes.
 Genitals appear.
 Baby's liver is making red blood cells.
 The head is very large -- about half of baby's size.
 Your little one can now make a fist.
 Tooth buds appear for the baby teeth.
 Weeks 15 to 18

 At this stage, baby's skin is almost transparent.

 Fine hair called lanugo develops on baby's head.
 Muscle tissue and bones keep developing, and bones become
harder.
 Baby begins to move and stretch.
 The liver and pancreas produce secretions.
 Your little one now makes sucking motions.
 Weeks 19 to 21

 Your baby can hear.

 The baby is more active and continues to move and float
around.
 The mother may feel a fluttering in the lower abdomen. This is
called quickening, when mom can feel baby's first movements.
 By the end of this time, baby can swallow.
 Week 22
 Lanugo hair covers baby's entire body.
 Meconium, baby's first bowel movement, is made in the
intestinal tract.
 Eyebrows and lashes appear.
 The baby is more active with increased muscle development.
 The mother can feel the baby moving.
 Baby's heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope.
 Nails grow to the end of baby's fingers.
 Weeks 23 to 25

 Bone marrow begins to make blood cells.

 The lower airways of the baby's lungs develop.
 Your baby begins to store fat.
 Week 26

 Eyebrows and eyelashes are well-formed.

 All parts of baby's eyes are developed.
 Your baby may startle in response to loud noises.
 Footprints and fingerprints are forming.
 Air sacs form in baby's lungs, but lungs are still not ready to
work outside the womb
 Weeks 27 to 30

 Baby's brain grows rapidly.

 The nervous system is developed enough to control some body
functions.
 Your baby's eyelids can open and close.
 The respiratory system, while immature, produces surfactant.
This substance helps the air sacs fill with air.
 Weeks 31 to 34

 Your baby grows quickly and gains a lot of fat.

 Rhythmic breathing occurs, but baby's lungs are not fully
mature.
 Baby's bones are fully developed, but are still soft.
 Your baby's body begins storing iron, calcium, and phosphorus.
 Weeks 35 to 37

 Baby weighs about 5 1/2 pounds (2.5 kilograms).

 Your baby keeps gaining weight, but will probably not get much
longer.
 The skin is not as wrinkled as fat forms under the skin.
 Baby has definite sleeping patterns.
 Your little one's heart and blood vessels are complete.
 Muscles and bones are fully developed
 Week 38 to 40

 Lanugo is gone except for on the upper arms and shoulders.

 Fingernails may extend beyond fingertips.
 Small breast buds are present on both sexes.
 Head hair is now coarse and thicker.
 In your 40th week of pregnancy, it has been 38 weeks since
conception, and your baby could be born any day now.